Fish cutting and cleaning machine



H. D. SEVERANCE.

FISH CUTTING AND CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE15I 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

HOWARD DANIEL SEVERANCE, 01? HONTEREY, CALIFGRNIA. lFISH CUTTING AND CLEANING MACHINE Application filed J'une 15,

To aZZ 'whom it may cof/wem: j

Be it known that I, HOWARD DANIEL SEV- ERANCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monterey, in the county of Monterey and State of California, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Fish Cutingl and Cleaning achines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fish cutting and cleaning machines of the type shown and described in my prior application, Serial No. 483,117, filed December 27th, 1920. The object of this invention is to improve the operation of a machine of the type above mentioned. This object Iaccomplish by the provision of means for arranging the fish on their sides within the pockets and means to penetrate the side of each .fish near its head to hold it against longitudinal displacement when the severing device strikes the head.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following descri tion and illustrated in the accompanying rawin s, in whichigure 1 shows a side elevation of a machine to which my improvements have been ap lied.

ig. 2 shows a detailed sectional view of the device for assisting in retaining the fish within the pocket.

In the present form of the invention, I use a main frame 10 provided'with an endless conveyer 11, said conveyer being fitted with a series of pockets 12. Fish are fed into these pockets-heads projectin outwardlyfrom a feeding device not s own. I arrange a spring 13 upon a standard 14, in position to coperate with the fish in the pockets so that the latter in passing beneath the spring will be turned upon their sides before reaching the severing device. overlying the conveyer 11 is an endless belt or chain 15 fitted with shoes 16 to coperate Specification of Letters Pate-nt.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921. 1921. serial No. 477,624.

there is danger of dislodging the fish from the pocket notwithstandlng the degree of pressure applled by the clampin means. lherefore, arrange a sharpene projectlon or lug 19 on the side of the frame in the region occupied by the fish when the severing device comes into play. This blade or lug projects above the bottom of the pocket at the outer end thereof, as best shown in Fig. 2.

-In the operation of the device, the fish will be caused to ride upon the projecting lug or blade 19 and when the downwardly movlng severing arm 18 strikes the head of the fish, this lug or blade/19 will penetrate the fish at the underside and prevent movement of the body outwardly. Since the fish 1s lyin on its'side, there is no danger of the projection 19 severing the gut and therelflorel the latter will be withdrawn with the Having thus described myinvention, what I laim and desire to secure by Letters Paten 1s:-

conveyer provided with pockets,- each to re-A ceive a fish with the heads projecting therefrom, an overhead device to clamp the fish in place within the pockets, a severing device to deliver a downward blow to the projecting heads of the fish for the purpose of removing the same and a device beneath the projecting head topenetrate the fish slightly forv the purpose of preventing displacement when the severing device strikes the head.

2. In a machine of the class described, a main frame, an endless conveyer thereon provided with pockets each to receive a fish with 'the heads projecting therefrom, an overhead conveyer fitted with shoes to cooperate with the pockets and clamp the fish in place therein, a rotary severing device having blades or arms to strike the projecting heads of the fish for the purpose of removing the same, and a blade carried by the main frame and projecting above the bottom of the pockets at the outer end thereof and arranged in juxtaposition with the severing device, whereby when the latter strikes the projecting head, the blade beneath will penetrate the fish andv prevent dislod ent thereof from the pocket.

3. 'Igl'iial combination set forth in claim 1 including device to in said pockets.

4. .In a machine of the class described, an 5 endless conyeyer 'provided Wlth pockets,

each to receive a, fish with heads projecting anoverhead device to clamp the the pockets., a severing detherefrom, fish in place 1n vice lto remove the projecting heads of the Fsh and means located in advance of the severing' device to arrange the fish upon their sides in said pockets, said means comprising a spring member, contacting with a por- -tion of the pocket.

HOWARDv DANIEL SEVERANCE.' 

